Three new commissioners were sworn in at the Traverse City commission organizational meeting Monday following last week's election, including Laura Ness, Lance Boehmer, and Kenneth Funk. Mayor Amy Shamroe was also sworn in for another term. Ness was chosen Monday by her fellow commissioners to serve as mayor pro tem (essentially vice mayor) after Commissioner Heather Shaw failed to obtain enough support for the role. Commissioners also approved appointments to various boards at the meeting.

The nominations of both Ness - a board newcomer - and veteran Shaw to serve as mayor pro tem touched on long-simmering tensions on the previous commission. Commissioner Jackie Anderson, who has often voted with Shaw and former Commissioner Tim Werner as a minority bloc, said Shamroe's decision to support Ness for mayor pro tem was a "break with tradition." A more "experienced commissioner" is usually proposed for the position, Anderson said. She cited a previous consultant's analysis that communications were "fractured" among commissioners and said the new board configuration offered an opportunity for a "fresh start," which she believed would be supported by Shaw serving as mayor pro tem.

While Shamroe acknowledged past challenges on the commission, she said the city has since had changes in staff leadership as well as several new commissioners elected who represent "very different experiences" and walks of life. Ness would be representative of those experiences and has also chaired two city boards, including the Hickory Hills Advisory Committee and Recreational Authority. With mayor pro tem running meetings in the mayor's absence, Shamroe said that administrative experience - along with Ness's approachability and temperament - made her a good fit for the role. 

Describing herself as a "fiercely independent thinker," Ness said she didn't want to have "perceived sides or factions" on the commission. "Every decision that we make must serve the long-term interests of the city," she said. "That's the oath that we just took." Commissioners voted first on Shaw's nomination for mayor pro tem, which failed along 3-4 lines: Shaw, Anderson, and Boehmer were in support, while Shamroe, Funk, Ness, and Commissioner Mitch Treadwell were opposed. With the failure of that nomination, commissioners then voted 5-2 - with Shaw and Anderson opposed - to appoint Ness mayor pro tem.

Commissioners also made several board appointments at Monday's meeting. Those appointments included:

> Traverse City Light & Power: Boehmer, Ness
> Traverse City Arts Commission: Shaw
> Brown Bridge Advisory Committee: Funk
> Hickory Hills Advisory Committee: Ness (she will move to the commission representative role on this board, opening up the city resident role she previously held) 
> Recreational Authority: Funk
> Grand Traverse County Economic Development Corporation: Shaw
> NEXT Michigan Corporation Board: Anderson, Boehmer (alternate)
> Grand Traverse County Township Association: Shaw
> Traverse City Planning Commission (administrative official): Jerry Swanson
> Grand Traverse County Board of Public Works: Interim City Manager Benjamin Marentette or his designee